A Home in the Making

It is easy to build houses. Combining experience with trial and tested techniques, houses are built higher and stronger.

Yet building a home is not quite as easy. Even after thousands of years of civilisation, we never quite mastered the art. On contrary, we make the same mistakes over again and over again.

Transforming a house into a home is a tedious process; just like most other good things in life, they don't usually come without any struggle.

I was busy settling in the appliances and furnitures today. Now I can finally sit back and laugh as I recount the many mishaps which happened earlier. Firstly, the carpenter broke the cupboard door while trying the fix the squeaking sound at the hinges. Then, he tried to fix a nail to hang my painting, but ended up breaking the wall.



When the fridge arrived, it was almost too big to pass through the kitchen's door. We got people from the management office up, getting ready to tear down the door.

Ring's Tip on buying a fridge


Step 1: The width and height should fit into the existing fridge space (common sense);


Step 2: Measure again with the fridge door open; make sure that nothing is in the way when swinging it open (I never thought of that); and



Step 3: Don't forget to measure the kitchen door... otherwise be prepared to have it ripped off(almost became my nightmare)!

And one delivery came in 4 hours late. I thought it was never going to come.

Fortunately, things turned out okay at the end of the day. See the transformation...


TV and Home Theatre System have arrived!


Just in time to watch Lord of the Rings


Bedroom in the making (By the way, the "girly" colour is not my idea; it's a long story how it ended up like this)


Ta da... the finished product! Now it feels more like home


My "World", a new toy


Say "Hi" to one of my new friends, at risk of suffering from soap poisoning. Maybe I should get an encyclopedia about insects, since they have become part of my life, even sharing my bed sometimes. An idea for a house warming gift? Hehe...

Happy Birthday to Me!

I have just finished the book about "John", written by his ex-wife Cynthia Lennon, and staring at the cover in daze, reminiscing the life of the man who I both adore and despise, when my phone went off.

It was a sms with birthday greetings for me from Jo in HK at an unlikely hour of 1.30am. This one followed shortly after KY's text just minutes past midnight. I must say that I am delighted and surprised that the birthday greetings this year came so promptly... hehe clearly someone out there misses me.

I used to love birthdays as a kid because of the presents that I would receive, and in my younger days, I thought it was a great excuse for friends to get together and simply have fun. When I started to have only 1 candle on my birthday cake (say it's self deceiving, but the sight of so many candles is unbearable), I dreaded birthdays, honestly I do. It makes me feel old, no matter how much compliments I received about me looking younger than my age. I guess I have never really came to term with the fact that I have passed the "twenty something"!

It is interesting that I should be reading the life story about John on this day, learning how much he has gained and lost in his journey towards becoming one of the greatest man in the world; how much love he has shown the world while at the same time hurt those who loved him most. It makes me realised that it is often too easy to take for granted the things and people around us, and all the little acts of kindness done to us, which if you really look back and reflect on, you know are indispensible in making your life fulfilling. Sometimes, regrets come too late, and other times, it is difficult to make up for all that have been lost.

If there is anything more than bewilderment and a deep sense of loss for the great man who has died way before his time after reading the book, it is a reminder to me that while pursuing bigger things in life, do not forget to love those who have always stood by my side.

With all the warm wishes, luncheon and birthday bash lining up, it is hard to not be high spirited. And to my friends, I will tell you this: it doesn't take 74 million audiences or 6 million copies of best selling album to make me feel special. I already do as you remember me on this special day.

I rejoice at another fulfilling year that has passed, this is the new meaning of birthdays to me.



I am still feeling sorry that my candle went out before I could make my wish. Anyway, it is for world peace and good health of my family and friends, and a third wish, shall remain a secret. Haven't you heard before? You should never reveal your third wish or it'll not come true.

Here's a song for you, friends.

In my life

There are places i'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends i still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life i've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When i think of love as something new
Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more

Though i know i'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know i'll often stop and think about them
In my life i love you more
In my life i love you more

More than just an ordinary strawberry field

"I must be crazy or a genius".

One of the favourite quotes of John Lennon's. And he revealed his insecurity about being constantly on different wavelenghts with others in his song...

"No one I think is in my tree,I mean it must be high or low".

Strawberry Fields Forever... nothing close to the strawberries that we all know. Strawberry Field was in fact an orphanage in Liverpool ran by the Salvation Army, near the home where Lennon used to stay with his Aunt Mimi during his childhood days.

John Lennon loved the garden parties held there during the summer months and often spent too much time on other days playing in Strawberry Field with his friends. Much to the dismay of his Aunt, which he reciprocated with nothing but crude reply, "They can't hang you for it" (this inspired another verse of the lyrics "nothing to get hung about")

My favourite thing about this song is how I can relate with his attitude about life:

"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me."

The fact is it is so easy to live a life, if living means conforming without questions and drifting along as time slips by. Do not be bothered with right or wrong and don't expect to be somebody. Of course life will work out, if you do not care what it means.

I haven't found my Strawberry Field, a place where dreams seem real, where you truly feel belonged and attuned. But I certainly hope you have one too.

At the ending of the song, John Lennon said "Cranberry Sauce" a few times (probably most obvious when he said it for the very last time), which was mistaken as "I buried Paul" (fellow band mate Paul McCartney). This led to rumours that Paul had died! That was in 1967.


* Strawberry Fields Forever *

Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Living is easy with eyes closed,
Misunderstanding all you see.
It's getting hard to be someone but it all works out.
It doesn't matter much to me.

Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low.
That is you can't you know tune in but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad.

Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.

Always no sometimes think it's me,
But you know I know when it's a dream.
I think I know I mean "Yes," but it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.

Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields.
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.
Strawberry Fields forever.

I spotted Nessie!

Rare! Rare!

As I was cruising on Loch Ness, I spotted the legendary monster... Nessie.

Here's the proof, a short footage of my rare sighting!

Scotland, as beautifully as I can present it

It is so easy to lose track of time these days, not just because I am on vacation, but also the sun never seem to set before bed time. Apparently, the sun is also an early riser here, who has been up working before I am awake on the next day.

After 3 days in Scotland, I have fell deeply in love with the picturesque highland. The mountains and Loch (lake) are spectacular... every piece of this beauty is too good to be missed, every cloud is unique and every loch is dazzling.


Loch Gale. It is said that this is a wonder of nature. The Loch looks exactly like the map of Scotland.

Shoe told me it is a pity that a photograph cannot always capture the real beauty of a place. And it is true. For some beauty needs to be appreciated using more than just the naked eyes. How do I explain the sound in the wind at the top of the hill on Fairy Glen? How do I describe the roaring of the waves at Kilt Rocks? So I took a deep breath hoping to inhale all these beauty into me.


Fairy Glen. The high and low little "hills" are said to be caves where fairies lived in. Someone once found a fairy coin and made a wish which came true instantly. Believe it or not that's up to you. But if you made a wish, remember not to tell anyone or it will never come true.


Kilt Rocks. When the sun is at the right direction, the rocks resemble the pleats on the Scottish kilt. That's how those rocks got the name. Not quite obvious from here though.

And Isle of Skye is fabulously beautiful. This is Kyleakin where we stayed for the night.


Ruin castle built by the Vikings.


The bridge resembles 2 seagulls flying across the lake. How was the design derived? Maybe from a child's imagination.


We stood at the lake watching the seagulls. Almost got hit by one trying to capture this shot.


Scotland at random. Beautiful, isn't it?


*** Watch out for more upcoming posts about Scotland. Next up... the Loch Ness Monster!

A tale of the 2 cities...

Would you believe it if I tell you I have nothing against cats?